Wild Solutions: Second Edition.

WILD SOLUTIONS: Second Edition ANDREW BEATTIE AND PAUL R. EHRLICH 

In the dog days of summer, mosquito bites are a regular occurrence. The emergence of West Nile virus among people and animals has rekindled interest in mosquitoes not just as a nuisance but also as a health hazard. So, wouldn't the world be better off without these pesky bugs? Not so fast, say Beattie and Ehrlich. Mosquitoes or their larvae are important components in the food chain that feeds birds and some fish, the authors say in this revised edition of their 2001 book about the value of biodiversity in nature and for technology. In their dissections of different food chains and ecosystems, the authors lay out what various species do and how they all play crucial roles in the whole food chain or ecosystem. Some creatures provide a simple service. For example, dung beetles live to eat feces. In 48 hours, a crew of these beetles can consume an entire pile of elephant droppings, providing a great service to all of Earth's inhabitants. One goal of the authors is to show how these same players in natural ecosystems can spawn technologies. Consider mayflies. Their larvae absorb pollutants, which makes them good indicators for scientists trying to monitor water quality in streams. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical researchers are using compounds in the mayapple, a wildflower common in the eastern United States, to make anti-tumor drugs, A primary message of the book is that this valuable biodiversity will disappear unless steps are taken soon to ward off environmental destruction. Yale U Pr, 2004, 261 p., b&w illus., paperback, $16.00.